Search This Blog

Thursday, 19 January 2017

SCHOOLS RELIGIOUS TEACHING SHAKE-UP

Just as people in Swaziland
are increasingly turning against Muslims, the Swazi Ministry of Education has
said from Tuesday (24 January 2017) the only religion to be taught in public
schools would be Christianity.

Until now, the Religious
Education syllabus included Christianity, Islam, Baha’i faith and Swazi
ancestors. The decision reportedly came from the Swazi Cabinet, which is
handpicked by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Also, all pupils will be
obliged to take Religious Education throughout their time at primary and high
school.

The Times of Swaziland reported on Thursday
(19 January 2017) that Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Pat
Muir, said government was targeting the ability for school children to
differentiate between morality and immorality and also to ensure that children
were not confused.

The Times reported, ‘He said they believed Christianity was the best
way to achieve this.’

It quoted Muir saying, ‘When
they reach university or go to college, they will then be able to make a
decision on whether they want to learn about other religions because then they
will be matured and will not be easily confused.’

In recent times there has been widespread criticism of
‘Asian’ people in general and Muslims in particular.

In November 2016, Swaziland’s
Director
of Public Prosecutions Nkosinathi Maseko told a parliamentary select
committee set up to investigate what the Observer
on Sunday newspaper called an ‘influx of illegal immigrants’ into the
kingdom, ‘most nationals of Asian origin were associated with terrorist
activities’.

In the same month, Muslims in Swaziland reported
they were ‘terrorised’ by local police. The Imam of Ezulwini Islamic Centre, Feroz
Ismail, said guests had visited the kingdom from across Africa for a graduation
and Jasla Ceremony.

The Times of Swaziland newspaper on 23 November
2016 reported him saying the guests, ‘were abused while in the country. They informed me
that they were terrorised by the police while visiting some tourist attraction
areas including the glass and candle factory.’

He said
police demanded that the visitors produce their passports and other documents
required for visitors to be in the country.

The Times reported Ismail saying, ‘They were
ferried in police vehicles to their hotel rooms as the officers demanded that
they immediately produce documents which proved that they were in the country
legally.’

This was
not the first time police have been heavy-handed with Muslims. In September
2016, it was reported undercover police were infiltrating Muslim mosques to
attend Friday prayers.

When it was announced that
free meat would be available, Christian leaders condemned the move and ordered
their flocks to stay away.

President of the League of Churches Bishop Simon Hlatjwako was reported
by the Times of Swaziland saying
true Christians would not participate in the event and would not eat the free
meat offered by Muslims.

‘True Christians should not dare set foot at
the Muslim slaughtering ceremony,’ he reportedly said. He added, ‘Personally,
I would not even bother myself; I do not care about their meat and ceremonies.
Muslims worship their own god and as Christians, we do not go along with their
god.’

The newspaper also reported Bishop
Steven Masilela, President of the Conference of Churches, saying as they were
the body of Christ, they were not allowed to eat everything.